First sparring session @White Collar Boxing

Heya!
One month already since my last post. Seems it has been quite a long time ago, yet I've been up to so many things!
First: work. Exciting things seems to be in preparation for this incoming year, I'm looking forward those new challenges
And of course... well, the training!
The last month has been pretty intense. Alexis and Rey, two of our coaches, have been pushing our endurance and giving us some hard time recently: all for the best. They want us to be fit and ready for the fight, to avoid any injuries. But that includes some hardcore training sessions. This Monday we did a whole physical workout to see how good our stamina is. Started the training saying to us: 50% of you will not make it though today's training. At least I was not part of those 50%. First workout I felt it pushed me to my limits. But he gave us a good advice: train your stamina and endurance. It's what's going to make a difference in the ring. He recommended adding a morning run, which I've started doing (I know i told in the past I was going to do it... but it was hard to wake up!).
So this week I've started switching my sleeping habits: going to bed at 10pm, waking up at 6am for a run before going to work... So far, so good! (Plus all these workouts, running etc are starting to be rewarding: I've shredded 2.4kg since I started the training, although I've been building muscles. Good good!)

Now, the sparring: Alexis told us last week we would start sparring this week. Gave us some double teeth mouthguards (the ones that protect both upper and lower teeth, contrary to the single ones that usually only protect the up ones) for us to use. But.. I know from my rugby experience that the double ones make breathing quite hard. And it was no different with the ones they provided us. Hence I started digging around and found an MMA shop in Singapore, with cool stuff for martial enthusiasts. Went there and found exactly what I neede: a double mouthguard with proper holes in front to allow normal breathing. I can even talk with that on (although drinking is another story).

Jaco Guardian Dual Tray Mouthguard

Yesterday was the first sparring session. I've to admit I was quite excited about this. Being able to get a first hand experience on how things were going to work, how was the feeling of being alone in a ring with someone else, trying to kick your ass. The training was quite.. light, in the way that basically everyone would do a warm-up, then 4 persons would go in the ring, one in each corner. Each those persons would do 2 consecutive rounds of 2 minutes each, against 2 of the 3 others. Simple, yet so tiring! I kept skipping and skipping, waiting my turn to enter the ring, wondering who the trainers will match me with. Nearly the end of the training, finally my turn. Got inside the ring with 2 of the most experienced guys (one of them has already competed in a white collar boxing event, the other one has several months worth of training in the club and always seems very comfy. The last of my ring "colleagues" was another "ring virgin" like me I have to admit that I was happy to be with such competition: it was not going to be easy!

And it indeed was not easy: my first round was against Marlon, who has been doing boxing for quite a while. It's weird to be looking in the eyes of a man in the ring, knowing his only goal is land a punch in your face... Anyway, the round was quite fun, surprised him a number of times with speed jab cross, which was good. But I just couldn't handle properly my defense: did not know how to counterattack properly. Alexis confirmed me that afterwards: good attack, poor defense and tendency to lower my left arm. I'll have to work on those. Marlon managed to hit me pretty good two times (heard the "awww" from the crowd, and had a glimpse of the "knock out sensation", where you lose a bit control of your body and see the stars" but it was fun! no harm done and teaches me a lesson! Second round was ok, quite even.

At the end of my rounds, I was not over breathing or anything. it was good! Just still excited and with a bit of jaw pain, which left after a while. This Saturday will be physical and technical training again, sparring next week again.

Oh, I've also signed up for the gym for the two incoming weeks: I want to attend the training the other days we do not have the mandatory trainings (Tues, Thurs and Fri), and maybe take some PT sessions (personal trainer: one to one class) in order to boost my technique. I really want to offer a good fight: to my opponent (no ones likes to fight someone not good enough) but also to the spectators that will come to the event.

Also: I'm starting to see who wants to see my fight (9th April). I can only book tables of 10 persons (although apparently we can ask to squeeze 12!). Keep in mind that it can sound expensive, but that it's a gala kind of event, with dinner and cocktails included, plus you will find the opportunity to see 10 fights, one featuring me! So if you want to attend, just drop me an email!